Chapter 41: Just Wait and Regret!

That fleeting reluctance was merely a flicker; it left no lasting mark on Lin Jie's heart and held no power to sway him.

The distance between Lin Jie and Ye Mo was like that between the earth and the sky at the farthest end of the street—seemingly close yet unreachable, forever separated by an invisible chasm.

Had it been any other ordinary girl treating Lin Jie so kindly, perhaps he might have indulged in a fleeting fantasy of their future together.

But the girl who stood before him, like a fairy descended from the heavens, was Ye Mo—her name as delicate as a leaf, as ephemeral as a bubble.

She was right there, within arm's reach, but Lin Jie knew that should he dare to stretch out his hand, she would vanish like a bubble—fragile and elusive.

"Hey, what are you daydreaming about now?"

Ye Mo's voice pulled him from his thoughts. He looked at her silently; her exquisite face held a teasing, half-smiling expression. Waving her hand in front of his eyes, she taunted, "Don't tell me you were thinking of doing something naughty with some other pretty girl?"

Lin Jie, caught off guard by her words, could only suppress a sigh, his lips tightening as he retorted, "Why would I need to look at other girls when I have you…?"

He trailed off, feeling that his words came out too abruptly. The latter half of his sentence faded into a mumble.

But Ye Mo wasn't slow to catch on. With a light pat on his shoulder, she smiled playfully, "Don't be shy! There's nothing wrong with being smitten with your big sister. Just admit it boldly."

Lin Jie glanced at her, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

"By the way, about what you promised me the other night, you're not going to back out, are you?" Ye Mo lowered her head slightly, kicking at the stones by her feet as she murmured, "Of course, if you don't want to, I won't force you."

"What promise?"

"The one about traveling together…"

"I don't recall agreeing to that."

Ye Mo's head shot up, an indignant retort ready, but as her eyes met his, she hesitated, her gaze dropping back to the ground with a quiet "Oh."

Her eyes downcast, she gently bit the collar of her sweatshirt, hands buried deep in its pockets, absentmindedly kicking at the dust by her feet, even as it soiled her pristine white shoes.

Though her expression showed no trace of disappointment, her entire demeanor spoke of unspoken sorrow. Lin Jie thought, There are few people in this world who could bear to see Ye Mo suffer.

He had no intention of letting her feel neglected. But given the vast gulf between them, in every sense, he didn't even feel worthy to shine her shoes.

From a purely practical standpoint, if they did go on this trip, how far would his meager thirty thousand yuan stretch against Ye Mo's extravagant spending habits?

Nowhere. In the end, it would all be her money.

That alone was enough for Lin Jie to avoid agreeing to Ye Mo's travel invitation with willful ignorance.

"If you don't want to, then forget it," Ye Mo's voice carried a trace of embarrassment and frustration.

She couldn't understand why Lin Jie refused what was essentially a lavish, cost-free trip. Was it because they hadn't known each other long enough? Was there not enough familiarity between them?

No, no—such reasons were absurd in this fast-paced world.

Ye Mo was certain the real reason behind Lin Jie's reluctance lay in his inability to let go of his past.

"Whenever you're free, we'll go," Lin Jie replied calmly, his tone unaffected by her growing annoyance.

"And when would that be? Next summer? Or the one after that?" Ye Mo scoffed. "Don't forget, I'll be starting my third year in September, and a year later I'll graduate. Do you want me to wait until then?"

Many university students choose not to jump straight into work after graduation, instead opting to travel for a year or more while they're still young.

But for Ye Mo, the idea of traveling after graduation didn't appeal. Surrounded by teenagers still in their late teens, she would feel like an outsider, old and out of place.

"Whenever," Lin Jie replied indifferently.

His nonchalant response left Ye Mo both speechless and frustrated.

She couldn't fathom why Lin Jie was always so passive. On the rare occasions when he took the initiative, even in their playful banter, it would fill her with joy.

Clearly, in every way that mattered, she was far more exceptional than him.

Her friend Yun Duo had once told her, "When someone's presence starts to affect your mood, when you find yourself waiting eagerly for their messages…don't hesitate. Cut them off."

Ye Mo had hesitated long enough. Today, Lin Jie's cool response had finally helped her make up her mind. She glared at him fiercely, "Hmph! You just wait! You'll regret this!"

Lin Jie, clueless as ever, could only smile foolishly in return.

That foolish smile nearly made Ye Mo's resolve waver again. She'd never been in a relationship. In high school, she was focused on her studies; in university, she devoted herself to her hobbies—photography, painting, baking, skiing—so much that she never found the time for romance.

It wasn't that she didn't want to; she simply hadn't met anyone she liked.

Now that she had, to her dismay, he didn't seem interested in her… This was a feeling of defeat she had never experienced before.

People often harbor conflicting desires. On one hand, Ye Mo wanted Lin Jie to fall for her charm and wealth; on the other, she despised the idea of him being drawn to her for such superficial reasons.

"I never said I wouldn't go with you. I just don't know when," Lin Jie added, not wanting to sever the tenuous bond between them—though perhaps he had never intended to.

Their acquaintance wasn't long, and Ye Mo wasn't the first girl to show kindness toward him… But there was something about her, her directness and innocence, that made Lin Jie feel at ease in her company.

With her, he felt seen and cared for.

"Fine, ignore me then. You'll regret this, just you wait!" Ye Mo huffed, turning her head away in mock indignation.

Lin Jie hesitated for a moment but ultimately remained silent. What would he regret?

He was a man full of regrets, yet in those regrets, he found a strange peace.

"Don't be mad. To make it up to you, how about I buy you a dress?" Lin Jie offered.

Though he had done nothing wrong, the sight of Ye Mo's discontent made him want to do something to cheer her up.

She had been so good to him; he couldn't just ignore that.

He could continue being good to her—until she grew tired of him.

"You better not go back on your word!" Ye Mo's eyes sparkled with anticipation.

"I won't, I won't," Lin Jie replied with a soft smile.